Tag Archives: 2013

Design concept from earlier this year for an iSiri Smartwatch from Frederico Ciccarese

This wouldn't be the first time – remember Frederico Ciccarese's design concept for an iSiri smartwatch? – but rumors have been circulating about the possibility of an Apple-branded smartwatch in the coming months.

A report (via Chinese news portal 163.com) has been making the rounds on Mashable and 9to5Mac, among others, claiming that Apple and Intel are working together on a Bluetooth-enabled smartwatch that could be released as early as the first quarter of 2013.

The rumored iWatch may work like Sony Mobile's SmartWatch, which syncs with your smartphone and keeps you discreetly updated

Then, there are watch-style cases from accessories makers like Lunatik and Griffin that turn devices you already own, like an iPod nano, into a wrist-wearable smart device.

So, how would an Apple-sanctioned smartwatch differ from any of these? According to the report's sources on the Chinese supply chain, the iWatch would share some elements of other smartwatches. like Sony's device, it would be Bluteooth-enabled and sync to your smartphone, as long as it's an iPhone that is.

It would also be fairly dainty, roughly the size of an iPod nano with an 1.5" OLED display. Such a device, argues 9to5Mac, "could make sense for a future, Bluetooth 4.0-enabled iPod nano. Though they also note that its unlikely would choose to partner with Intel on a such a "low-powered, mobile product."

Despite what the rumor mill would have you believe, the unveiling of the Galaxy S IV is not imminent. A couple of days ago, we reported that Samsung had released a teaser video, telling us to "get ready" because "the world awaits [...] something new" January 8 to 11, 2013.

Those are of course the dates for the 2013 Consumer Electronics Show (CES), a huge annual event for the consumer electronics industry, where, in the past, big players in mobile have unveiled new devices and accessories.

Needless to say, Samsung's promise of new and exciting developments started a whole whack load of speculation as to whether or not we might see the smartphone maker unveil a successor to the Galaxy S III – the Galaxy S IV.

Aside from the fact that the teaser video cited the dates of a major event where smartphone makers, including Samsung, have traditionally introduced their new hardware, we actually know that the company is preparing a new handset.

Along with their Android software upgrade, Galaxy S III users in Poland, India, the UK, France, Sweden, Italy, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, and Algeria have also been introduced to something Samsung is calling Premium Suite. The upgrade brings some of Samsung's newer features, designed for the more recent Galaxy Note II, to the Galaxy S III.

That includes features like screen splitting, which allows you to use different apps in separate windows at the same time. Meanwhile, other new features of the Premium Suite upgrade fall in to the "contextual awareness," category, says Slashgear.

The most notable among those is the predictive "Page Buddy" feature, designed to intuit the appropriate response to your actions, like "launching the music player when headphones are plugged in," says Slashgear.

Though the Premium Suite upgrade has so far only been released to Galaxy S III users outside of the North American Continent, there's no reason to assume it won't be heading to the U.S. at some point soon, even if you've already received your Jelly Bean update.

Oh, and as a bit of an aside, Premium Suite is hardly the last trick Samsung's got up its sleeve for the near future. Rather, the company has already been teasing in pictures and video, telling us to "get ready" as "something new" is coming in 2013.

Still from a Samsung teaser video promising "something new" in 2013

The general opinion is that Samsung will reveal their big surprise at the 2013 Consumer Electronics Show (CES). But though the event has traditionally been a venue for new product launches, Mobile Syrup warns us not the get too excited over the possibility of a new Galaxy device, as "we probably won’t see the Galaxy S IV announced at CES."

Still, as you can imagine, the rumor mill is already turning, big-time.

Samsung's latest "phablet," the Galaxy Note II, is currently only available in Titanium Grey and Marble White

We get it. Smartphones are kind of like cars when it comes to color. Most people aren't going to rush out and get a hot pink or chartreuse model when they can stick with a basic hue like black or silver. And accordingly, smartphone makers tend to play it safe with new devices, usually releasing them in a pretty sober spectrum.

But, just like cars, sometimes we want our cellphones to be a little more distinct and it seems Samsung gets that. The company launched a new line of nature-inspired colors for their Galaxy S III phone back in August, and SamMobile reported today that they'll be doing the same with their latest "phablet," the Galaxy Note II. At the moment the device is only available in Titanium Grey and Marble White.

So far, the Galaxy Note II's new color variants are just a rumor. SamMobile cites an "insider" who says the new device will start rolling out in new hues like Amber Brown, Topaz Blue and Ruby Wine as early as this December or the beginning of 2013.

And while we've already seen the color Samsung calls Amber Brown in their newest Galaxy S III models, the other rumored color names don't match up to anything we've seen from Samsung yet.

In any case, if you've been thinking about getting a Galaxy Note II but haven't done so yet, it might be worthwhile to wait until after the holidays, unless of course you're into basic black and minimalist white.